Stillwater, OKLA. - In 1952, the Stillwater Area United Way held their first fund-raising campaign with a goal of $20,000. A total of $22,000 was raised to fund 10 agencies. This was the beginning of a rich 53-year tradition for the Stillwater Area United Way.
Five years later, another Stillwater tradition was born. The Hideaway Pizza opened in Stillwater.
As the campaign plans unfolded this summer, the campaign theme “Fly the United Way,” emerged. The publicity committee chose to use kites for the graphics to illustrate the theme. Committee members immediately associated “kites” with Richard and Marti Dermer, owners of The Hideaway in Stillwater. The ceilings and walls of the restaurant are adorned with beautiful and unusual kites. Richard and Marti graciously agreed to share their passion for kites and their passion for Stillwater by being honorary chairs for the Stillwater Area United Way fall campaign. This year’s goal is $740,000 to fund 25 agencies.
This year each United Way brochure will contain a “make your own kite” pattern to emphasize the wind power a piece of plastic, two sticks and some string can harness. Stillwater’s United Way agencies work together and harness the power of volunteers to increase the value of every donation. For instance, Stillwater Community Health Center leveraged a $50,000 United Way allocation into more than $1 million worth of health care and prescription drugs for your neighbors in need. More than 55,000 men, women and children in the Stillwater area were served by United Way agencies last year and the needs are growing.
Even the colorful brochure is a “united” effort. Sarah Little, publisher of Stillwater Living, designed it based on a sled kite template by Richard Dermer. United Way board member and Quebecor World Plant Manager Steve Miller had it printed.
Natalea Watkins, retired Oklahoma State University Associate vice president for communications, is the assistant campaign chair. A video featuring agency directors, local volunteers, United Way board members, students, citizens and Stillwater leaders tells the story of how what matters gets done when there is a united effort. The video, written and directed by Watkins, is produced by OSU’s Center for Teaching and Learning Excellence and is available to civic and employee groups through the United Way office. You will be able to catch the cast of familiar faces on local cable channels, too.
The campaign will officially lift off Sept. 22 with the 10th annual Day of Caring, chaired by Kimberly Sinclair, vice president of Stillwater National Bank. Hundreds of volunteers will gather for a light breakfast that morning and then head out to work at United Way agencies to clean, scrape, paint, mow, trim, wash, dust and whatever else needs to be accomplished that day.
This year, the breakfast will be held in the Sirloin Stockade, 208 N. Perkins Road. Managers Troy York and Andy Hawks will open their facilities for the gathering and Cain’s Coffee Co. will provide coffee for volunteer workers. United Way board members will recruit food donations to serve volunteer workers. This is a change in location for the breakfast, and it should be easy to park, get in, eat and be on their way to volunteer some hard work. The workers will gather for lunch on the Payne County Courthouse lawn for grilled hamburgers, hosted by Payne County employees. Day of Caring volunteers will receive tee shirts compliments of sponsors.
Two days after the official campaign kick-off, the annual Juke Joint Jog will begin at 4:30 p.m. Sept. 24. The Stillwater Medical Center is teaming up with Stan Clark Companies to host over 800 participants in this year’s event. The Juke Joint Jog is a 5 km certified race and a one mile fun run. Entry forms are available now at Stillwater Medical Center information desk, Mexico Joe’s, Eskimo Joe’s and Joseppi’s.
This year’s $740,000 campaign runs through mid-November. The 30 United Way board members, 25 agency directors, the campaign leaders and, of course, Executive Director Shelley Ricker are eager to tell to civic clubs and employees groups the real stories behind the $13 million difference United Way has made in Stillwater since 1952. Schedule a program and showing of the video by calling the United Way office at 377-2161.
You can help Stillwater “Fly the United Way” by filling out a pledge card where you work, clipping one from the brochure or going on-line at www.stillwaterunitedway.org You can also make a contribution at the United Way office, 109 East 9th Avenue, or by mail to P. O. Box 308, Stillwater, 74076. Richard and Marti Dermer are encouraging United Way supporters to increase this year’s pledge by a “Ben Franklin” or a $100 bill in honor of Ben Franklin’s role in kite history.
You might also consider endorsing your state tax rebate check to United Way. The check should arrive in November – $45 for individuals and $90 for couples.
